Printing-machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-SheetHl. H. S. BANTA 8v E. D. BLACK;

PRINTING MACHINE.

`Patented Oct. 8, I89I5.

N DREW i GRANAM. PMQYO-UTHQWAS HINGTOLD C (No Model.) 'a sheets-sheen 2.

H. s. BANTI'SU'B. D. BLACK.

PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 547,409. patented 001;. a, 189,5.

ANDREW EGRMIAM VPIUTOMTNQWASNINGI'DN. n.0.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. S. BANTA 8u E. D. BLACK.

PRINTING MAGHlNB.

Patented 001;. 8, 1895.

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Unirse Starr-ns arena* raten.

HARRY S. BANTA AND EDMUND D. LACILfOF KANSASUITY, MISSOURI.

PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 547,409, dated October8, 1895. Application led December 3, 1894. Serial No. 530,634. (Nomodel.)

To tr/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY S. BANTA and EDMUND D. BLACK, of Kansas City,Jackson county, Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Printing-lNIa chines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming `a part hereof.

Our invention relates to printing apparatus, and our object is toprovide a Aconstruction whereby transparent substances may be printedupon, and whereby yielding and unyielding substances not transparent maybe printed upon.

Vith this object in view the invention consists in certain peculiar andnovel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will behereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, we will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which--Figure l represents a plan view of our apparatus as arranged forprinting upon transparent substances. Fig. 2 is a vertical sec` tion ofthe same on the line of the axis of the transfer or impression roller.Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same to one side of itslongitudinal center. Fig. 4. is a detail perspective View of one of thebearings of the form-rollers. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of oneof the bearings of the distributing-rollers. Fig. 6 is a verticallongitudinal section of a portion of the apparatus, which shows the samearranged to print upon yielding surfaces or unyielding surfaces when thesecond impression or transfer roller is replaced by a roller of yieldingmaterial, as will be hereinafter explained. Fig. 7 is a detailperspective view of a shaft, upon which are mounted in operativeposition relative to each other the cams for raising and lowering at theproper moments the said impression or transfer rollers; and Fig. 8 is adetail viewin elevation of the said second impression or transferroller, the boxes in which it isjournaled, and the rods pivotallycarried thereby.

In the said drawings, l designates a framework of the construction shownor of any other suitable or preferred construction, and

2 designates a pair of longitudinal and parallel tracks, upon which thetraveling table or bed-plate 3 reciprocates. Depending from this tableare the vertical arms 4, which are united at their lower ends by a barwhich carries the longitudinally-extending plate 5, and cast integralwith said plate and projecting horizontally from one side of the same isa rack-bar G, which is provided at each end with an antifriction-roller7, and arranged concentric to the axis of the said rollers are thesemicircular fianges 8, which project laterally from the ends of thesaid plate A number of set-screws 9 extend through the curved flanges 10of the bar against which the plate G rests and secure said plate Gfirmly but detachably in position.

Journaled in one of the vertical portions of the framework is thetransversely-extending shaft ll, upon the outer end of which is mountedthe fast and loose pulleys 12 and 13, respectively, and the flyorlbalance wheel 14. A second shaft 15 forms a continuation of saidshaft 1l and is pivotally connected thereto at one end, as shown at 16,so as to be free to swing in a Vertical plane and to rotate therewithsimultaneously. Said shaft, near its inner end, is journaled in a boxing17, which slides in a vertical plane concentric to the pivotal point ofsaid shaft in the grooved standard 17, and mounted upon the inner end ofsaid shaft is a star-wheel 17h, which engages first one side and thenthe other of the rack-bar 6 to cause the reciprocation of the table orbed-plate in a manner to be hereinafter more particularly described.

Extending longitudinally of the machine, parallel with the shaft ll andjournaled at its opposite ends in the framework isa shaft 18, andmounted upon one end of the same is a large cog-wheel 19, which meshescontinuously with the small cog-pinion 2O upon the shaft l1. Thiscog-wheel is of such size relative to the said pinion that it makes onecornplete revolution to each back-andforth reciprocation of the table orbed-plate. Arranged in the same vertical plane as and parallel with theshaft 1l and a suitable distauceibelow the same is a shaft 2l, which isalsojournaled in the framework, and mounted upon the opposite ends ofthe same are the eccentrics 2l, which are connected by the rods 22,turn- ICO buckles 23, andthe rods 24, pivotally, as at 26, to thesliding boxes 27, which are provided with outwardly-projecting ribs,which engage the grooves in the vertical standards 28, se-

5 cured upon and projecting above the said rect, course, as shown by theshade-lines at 22a, so that in said reciprocatory movement it will notcome in contact with said shaft 1l, which, as before explained, isvertically above the shaft 21. The impression or transfer roller 29, ofrubber or other suitable yielding material, has its spindle or shaftjournaled in the boxes 27, so that its axis is in the same verticalplane as the axes of the shafts 17 and 21, and secured rigidly at oneend of said roller is a cog-wheel 30, which meshes at times with thelongitudinally-extending rackbar 3 1,secured marginally to one side ofor formedintegral with the table 3. Secured to the outer side of therack-bar 31 and to the opposite margin of the table 3 are thevertically-adjustable bearers 32, which at a suitable point, as at 33,change the plane of their upperor bearing surfaces for a purpose to behereinafter explained. Arranged a suitable distance rearward of theimpression or transfer roller and bolted or otherwise rigidly securedupon the framework are the boxes 33, provided with vertical apertures34. Bearings 35 are provided centrally with depending stems 36, whichextend through said apertures 34 and also through and a suitabledistance below the said marginalllanges of the framework, and mountedspirally upon said stems and bearing at their upper and lower endsagainst the under side of the framework andthe retaini ng-nuts 37,respectively, are the expansion-springs 38, which tend to force saidstems downward all the time. The bearings 35 are provided at oppositesides of their center and in their under side with the bearing slots orgrooves 39., in which are rotatably mounted the spindles of theform-rollers 40, which extend transversely of the machine and parallelwith the roller 29. At the opposite ends of said rollers, which are ofordinary composition or yielding material, are provided the metallicdisks or rollers 41, which are held with a yielding pressure at alltimes upon the bearers 32 by the springs 38. At a point vertically abovethe rack 31 the formrollers are cut away, as shown at 42, so as not tocontact with said rack. In order to assistv in the proper distributionof ink upon said rollers, we provide the distributing-roller 43, whichextends parallel and contacts with the said form-rollers and has itsspindles journaled rotatably in the U-shaped bearings 44, formed uponthe bearings 35.

At the rear end of the framework is mounted, as shown, or in any othersuitable manner, the ink-fountain 45, so that the ink-distribthe shaft11 is necessarily bent out of its di-l uting plate 46, which is boltedor otherwise rigidly secured to and projecting rearwardly from thebed-plate 3, may reciprocate beneath it, and journaled in bearing-boxes47, carried by the framework, is the shaft of the supplyroller 48, whichcommunicates with the ink in said fountain. A ratchet-wheel 49 ismounted upon one end of the shaft and is engaged by a spring-actuatedpawl 50, carried by a lever 51, mounted loosely upon said shaft, andsaid lever is pivotally connected by the linkrod 52 with the disk 53upon the shaft 18 at the corresponding side of the machine. A smalltransfer-roller 54 extends parallel with the roller 48 and is journaledat its opposite ends in the upper ends of the levers 55, which leversare pivoted, as at 56, a suitable distance above their lower ends to thesides of the framework, and are connected at their lower ends', as at57, by the cross-rod 58. Said rod is pivoted, as at 59, to a link-rod60, which carries an antifriction-roller 61 at its opposite end, whichengages a cam-groove in the wheel 62, mounted rigidly upon said shaft18. It will be seen from the foregoing that with each completerevolution of said shaft 18 the supply-roller 48 is rotated and theroller 5,4 transfers a supply of ink from the same to theinkdistributing plate 46. Extending at different angles across the faceof the ink-distributing plate and in contact therewith at all times arethe vibratory distributing-rollers 63, and the shafts of said rollersare journaled at their opposite ends in the U-shaped bearings 64, whichare provided with cylindrical stems 65, engaging corresponding apertures66 in the brackets 67, bolted or otherwise rigidly secured upon theframework of the machine, and said U-shaped bearings are held at anydesirable point in their adjustment by the set-screws 68, which impingeupon the stems 65 and are carried by said brackets. Extending up throughthe table or bed-plate are a number of impression-screws 69, whichsupport upon their upper ends the platen 70, upon which the plate orsubstance to be printed rests, and is held from longitudinal movement bythe adjustable plates 70ft and from lateral movementI by the rack-bar 31and the bearer at the opposite side of the table, or in any othersuitable manner. The form 71 is arranged between the ink-distributingplate and said bearing, as shown, by the strips 72, or in any othersuitable or preferred manner, and the upper surface or face of said formis adapted to lie in the same horizontal plane as the saiddistributing-plate 46. Secured rigidly upon the shaft 18 at a suitablepoint is a wheel 73, provided with a carngroove 74 in one side. Astub-shaft 76 projects from a standard at 17, or any other suitablepoint, and mounted pivotally upon the same is the lever 77, whichcarries an antifriction-roller 78 at one end, engaging the groove 74,and is provided with segmentallyarranged teeth 79 at its opposite end,which engage a pinion 8O upon the shaft 21. The

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groove in said cam-wheel 73 is of such conguration that while the tableis moving forward in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 3, thesaid transfer or impression roller 29 is elevated, and while the tableis moving in the opposite direction said transfer-roller is depressed oroccupies its lowest point of adjustment.

As a recapitulation of the entire description is unnecessary, we willrefer lninutely to that portion of the operation only wherein the ink istransferred from the form to the impression-roller and from theimpression-roller to the plate to be printed upon.

Supposing the form-rollers to have received a supply of ink from thedistributing-plate 46, said distributing-plate being supplied from theink-fountain by the supply-roller 48 and the transfer-roller 54, ashereinbefore eX- plained, and the vibratory distributing-rollers 63,having distributed said supply of ink evenly upon the surface of saidplate,the forward movement of the table, caused by the star-wheel 17engaging the rack 6, permits the form-rollers by reason of the inclinedportion 33 of the bearers 82 to roll over the face of and ink the form.The continued movement of the table in the same direction next causessaid,form to pass beneath and slightly forward of the impression-roller29. At this time the star-wheel is engaged by the semicircular flange 8at the rear end of the rackcarrying plate, and rby the momentum acquiredis caused to travel up between the said fiange and the opposingantifrictionroller 7, which is permitted by the pivotal operation of theshaft 15, and as said rotating star-wheel engages the rear end of therack at its upper side and starts the table upon its rearward travel thetoothed lever 77 is caused by the cam-groove 74 to partially rotate theshaft 21 and pull the impressionroller .29 down to its lowest point ofadjustment, where it frictionally engages the form upon therearwardly-moving table and receives the impression from the same. Thecontinued rearward movement of the table next brings the transparentplate a upon the platen beneath and into frictional contact with thesaid roller, which leaves the impression of the form upon said plate,andas said table reaches its rearward limit of motion the cam-groove'74raises the roller to its original position simultaneously with thedescent of the star-wheel at the opposite end of the rackbar to engagethe under side of the same and again move the table forward. It will beunderstood that as the printing or matter upon the form is reversed andis transferred to the impression-'roller and thence to the transparentplate the impression upon said plate will be reversed, so that to readthe form it is necessary to reverse the position of the plate,

or, in other words, to read through the glass. It is desirable that thisshould be so,fbecause when employed as a sign in exposed places theprinting or other matter upon the glass is protected from inclementweather. Itwill be apparent during the reciprocation of the table that,o wing to the raised portion of the bearers upon which rest the disks orrollers 41, the `form-rollers 40 never come in contact with the plate tobe printed upon, but are held above the same, as shown clearly in Fig.3. It is also apparent that as the table moves forward said rollers arecaused by the springs 88, immediately the higher portion of said bearershave passed beyond, to descend into frictional contact with the form andwith the distributing-plate, from which they receive their supply ofink.

In order to print upon unyieldingsurfaces which are not transparent-suchas frosted glass, metals, stone, ducit is necessary to employ anadditional impression-roller, of composition or other suitable yieldingmaterial. At the same time it is necessary to dispose the cam-wheel 73differently from what it appears in Fig. 3, or possibly it willbe bestto change the form of the groove 74 slightly. This difference will beobserved by reference to Figs. 3, 6, and 7, because in'this connectionthe impression-roller 29 must rise as the table'oegins its backwardmovement, and immediately thereafter the second impressionroller mustdescend, at the same time keeping in frictional contact with each other,so that the backward'movemeut of the table will cause the rotation ofsaid second impressionroller 8l by engagement with the cog-wheel 82 atone end thereof in the same manner that itcauses the operationy of theimpressionroller 29. The shaft of said impression-roller 8l is mountedin the ribbed boxings 83, which are adapted to slide vertically in thegrooved standards 83a, similar to the standards 28, and preferablyformed in a single casting therewith. Said boXings are pivotallyconnected by the rods 84 with the rods 85, which carry upon their lowerends antifriction-rollers 86, which engage the cam-grooves 87 in thewheels 88, secured upon the shaft 18 near its opposite ends. Byreference to Fig. 7 it will be observed that as the shaft and camsrotate in the direction indicated by the arrows the lever 77 will bepivotally operated to cause the roller 29 to rise and the cam-groove 87to cause the impression-roller 8l to descend almost simultaneously.Supposing the table to be in the position shown in Fig. 6 and moving inthe direction indicated by the arrow, it will be apparent that thecam-groove 87 (shown in dotted lines) is just about to move theimpressionroller 8l downward, which has received the impression of theform from the roller 29, which has just been elevated, as will also benoted by the location of the cam-groove 74 and the position of theeccentrics upon the shaft21. (Shownindottedlines.) Bythetime theimpression-roller 8l descends the plate of unyielding material b uponthe platen occupies a position beneath the said roller and receives theimpression therefrom.

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When it is desired to print upon yielding material, the roller 81 ofyielding material is replaced by a roller o f the same size of metal.The cams upon the shafts are not disturbed. It will be understood that asheet of yielding material upon the platen 70 passing under thenon-yielding roller will receive the impression of the form which hasbeen transferred from the yielding roller 29 to said nonyielding roller.

From the above description it will be apparent that we have produced amethod and an apparatus for printing upon yielding or unyielding andupon transparent surfaces which is positive and reliable in operationand comparatively inexpensive of construction. It will also be apparentthat various changes of construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the essential spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a printing machine, the combination with a table, havinga form anda plate to be printed upon, a form-impression cylinder and a secondimpression-cylinder in contact therewith, of a rotating power'shaft audintermediate connections between the same and the table whereby thelatter is reciprocated, and means to cause the form-impression cylinderto descend and take the impression from the form, and then to rise, atthe same time delivering said impression to the said second cylinder,and means to cause the immediate descent of said second cylinder uponthe plate to be printed upon, substantially as set forth.

2. In a printing machine, the combination with a suitable framework, atable, having a form and a plate to be printed upon, a formimpressioncylinder extending transversely of and above said table, a secondimpression cylinder parallel and in contact therewith, and a power-shaftwhereby the table is reciprocated, of a second shat't, cams mountedthereon and intermediate connections between the same and the saidimpression-cylinders, whereby, after the form-impression cylinder risesthe second impression cylinder descends, substantially as set forth.

3. In a printing-machine, the combination with a suitable framework, atable carrying an ink-distributing plate, a form, and a plate to beprinted upon, bearers also carried thereby having a portion of theirupper surface above the plane of the other portion, an ink-fountain, asupply-roller communicating therewith, an ink-transferring roller,ink-distributing rollers engaging the ink-distributing plate,form-rollers provided with unyielding rollers or disks engaging the saidbearers, a form-impression cylinder, and a second impression-cylinderfrictionally engaging the same, of a shaft, a disk and cam-wheelsmounted thereon, operative connections between said disk and theink-supply roller, and operative connections between the said cam-wheelsand said ink-transfer rollerand said form-impression rollers, and meansto reciprocate the table and rotate said shaft, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we atiix our signatures in the presence ot twowitnesses.

HARRY S. BANTA. EDMUN D D. BLACK. IVitnesses:

M. R. REMLEY, G. Y. THORPE.

